Europe has new Parliament, new Commission, and looking for new Agenda, as Horizon Europe.

To secure its Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Future, the EU's key strategies, policies,  programs, instruments and initiatives are to prioratize the best strategic technology of the 21st century, AI, with all its ground-breaking power and huge impact on all parts of human life, from economy to government.

As Ursula von der Leyen, President-Elect of the European Commission, said:

"In some fields, Europe has to catch up — like for business to consumers — while in others we are frontrunners — such as in business to business. We have to make our single market fit for the digital age, we need to make the most of artificial intelligence and big data, we have to improve on cybersecurity and we have to work hard for our technological sovereignty."

https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/european-ai-alliance/if-europe-needs-ai-governments-or-why-i-europe-platform

The article is arguing for instituting a Smart Europe Partnership for AI and ML, Robotics and Automation, Smart Cities and Green Communities, as an integrating base of the proposed partnerships covering the following topics:

• EU-Africa research partnership on health security to tackle infectious diseases
• Innovative Health Initiative
• Key Digital Technologies
• Smart Networks and Services
• European Metrology
• Transforming Europe's rail system
• Integrated Air Traffic Management
• Clean Aviation
• Circular bio-based Europe
• Clean Hydrogen
• Safe and Automated Road Transport
• Innovative SMEs

https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/have-your-say-next-generation-ambitious-research-and-innovation-partnerships-2019-sep-11_en

The Smart Europe Partnership for AI and ML, Robotics and Automation, Smart Cities and Green Communities is to unite all the proposed European partnerships, such as the digital-centric ones:

• Key Digital Technologies: to strengthen electronics value chains and integrate them into sectoral applications, enabling EU digital technology sovereignty and exploiting opportunities brought by artificial intelligence and emerging approaches.
• Smart Networks and Services: to reinforce European industrial leadership in developing and deploying the digital infrastructures of the future, underpinning the Next Generation Internet and digital industries.

And, the partnership candidates in other areas: Health, Clean Mobility, Sustainable Energy and bio-based solutions, Transport, Metrology and Innovative SMEs.

The Smart Europe Partnership for AI and ML, Robotics and Automation, Smart Cities and Green Communities is to obtain such strategic goals:

1. building i-Europe/ Smart Europe platform, providing EU AI technology sovereignty,
2. exploiting opportunities brought by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, for smart communities and intelligent green economy,  
3. enabling European scientific, technological and industrial leadership in developing and deploying the AI infrastructures of the future,
4. underpinning the FUTURE Internet and AI & Robotics & Smart Automation industries,
5. coordinating, collaborating, and aligning national strategies and programmes for AI and ML, Robotics and Automation, Smart Cities and Green Communities.

The European AI partnership is to formulate a Pan-European AI Strategy, coordinate EU Artificial Intelligence Plan, creating effective institutions, centers and enterprises which will allow competing with Russia, China and the USA for a global AI leadership.

As Russian President recognized, "Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia but for all humankind." "Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world."

What is wrong with European Innovation Partnerships?

The European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) has some history having being represented as the key initiatives under the Innovation Union (IU) (one of the targets of the European Union 2020 Strategy).

EIPs were launched as combining funding from national governments, with support from EU, other national and regional actors is justified.

EIPs were supposed to bring together actors at the European, national and regional level to focus on four objectives:

1. stepping up research and development efforts;
2. coordinating investments in demonstration and pilots;
3. anticipating and fast-track any necessary regulation and standards;
4. mobilising ‘demand’ in particular through better coordinated public procurement to ensure that any breakthroughs are quickly brought to market.

EIPs focused areas were as different as:

• Active and Healthy Ageing: the EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing aims to enable EU citizens to lead healthy, active and independent lives. Improving the sustainability and efficiency of social and healthcare systems, boosting and improving the competitiveness of the markets for innovative products and services. Responding to the ageing challenge at both EU and global level, creates new opportunities for businesses.
• Agricultural Sustainability and productivity: the agricultural EIP (EIP-AGRI) aims to foster competitive and sustainable farming and forestry, ensuring a steady supply of food, feed and biomaterials, thus developing its work in harmony with the essential natural resources on which farming depends.
• Smart cities and Communities: the EIP on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC) looks to establish strategic partnerships between industry and European cities to develop the urban systems and infrastructures of tomorrow. It aims to reduce high-energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, bad air quality and traffic congestion.
• Water: the EIP Water aims to speed up development of water innovation, to contribute to sustainable growth and employment, and to stimulate uptake of water innovations by market and society.
• Raw Materials: the EIP aims to reduce the shortage of raw materials, which may undermine EU industry's capacity to produce strategic products for society.

https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/newsletter/definition-day-european-innovation-partnerships-eips

Now what is wrong with European Innovation Partnerships, why they largely failed to reach their high goals and which lessons to learn.

First, the organization, administration and management defy any description.

Second, they are too formal and specialized.

Third, each of EIP should be human-centric, created as a broad Citizen-Public-Private Partnership, involving individual researchers, ministries, funding agencies, programme managers, and innovative businesses, instead of centralized administration by EC officers.

The most of EU’s partnerships, platforms and networks, as  European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs), European Technology Platforms (ETPs), Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), FET flagships, EUREKA and COST, are NOT of big use in developing the ERA. 

The issue is EIPs are too formal and specialized Since, while by its very definition, “EIPs are challenge-driven, focusing on societal benefits and a rapid modernisation of the associated sectors and markets. EIPs act across the whole research and innovation chain, bringing together all relevant actors at EU, national and regional levels”.

https://www.era-learn.eu/partnerships-in-a-nutshell/type-of-networks

A European Artificial Intelligence

The European Commission puts forward a European approach to AI and robotics, dealing with technological, ethical, legal and socio-economic aspects to boost EU's research and industrial capacity and to put AI at the service of European citizens and economy.

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/artificial-intelligence

In Communication on Artificial Intelligence for Europe, the Commission is proposing a European approach to make the most out of the opportunities offered by AI, while addressing the new challenges AI brings. Building on European values, the Commission is proposing a three-pronged approach: increasing public and private investments; preparing for socio-economic changes brought about by AI; and ensuring an appropriate ethical and legal framework.

A European Artificial Intelligence is based on three pillars:

Being ahead of technological developments and encouraging uptake by the public and private sectors

The Commission is increasing its annual investments in AI by 70% under the research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. It will reach EUR 1.5 billion for the period 2018-2020. It will:

• connect and strengthen AI research centres across Europe;
• support the development of an "AI-on-demand platform" that will provide access to relevant AI resources in the EU for all users;
• support the development of AI applications in key sectors.

The High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG) presented their policy and investment recommendations for trustworthy Artificial Intelligence at the first ever AI Alliance Assembly on 26 June 2019.

Joining forces at European level, the goal is to reach all together, more than EUR 20 billion per year over the next decade.

Prepare for socio-economic changes brought about by AI

To support the efforts of the Member States which are responsible for labour and education policies, the Commission will:

• support business-education partnerships to attract and keep more AItalent in Europe;
• set up dedicated training and retraining schemes for professionals;
• foresee changes in the labour market and skills mismatch;
• support digital skills and competences in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), entrepreneurship and creativity;
• encourage Members States to modernise their education and training systems.

Ensure an appropriate ethical and legal framework

Some AI applications may raise new ethical and legal questions, related to liability or fairness of decision-making. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a major step for building trust and the Commission wants to move a step forward on ensuring legal clarity in AI-based applications.

European Commission welcomed the final Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence prepared by the High-Level Group on Artificial Intelligence published on 8 April 2019.

Resources

The High-Level Expert Group on AI (AI HLEG) continues its work in promoting a Trustworthy and competitive environment for Artificial Intelligence in Europe

The Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

Does Europe need AI Governments and why an I-Europe platform?

Fake AI vs. True AI, or How to lead a global AI race

Who will control the future of AI?